On Wednesday, Nov. 30, the California Superior Court in Los Angeles ruled in favor of the California Veterinary Medical Association and against the city of West Hollywood, California, stating that West Hollywoods declaw ban is unlawful, invalid and unenforceable.
The proposed ordinance was found to be unlawful because Californias Veterinary Medicine Practice Act specifically regulates what veterinarians may or may not do within the scope of practicing veterinary medicine, and the California legislature has delegated to the California Veterinary Medical Board the authority to carry out and enforce the provisions of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.
It is important to have one set of rules regulating the practice of veterinary medicine in California, CVMA says. If each city had its own set of rules, confusion could arise, CVMA continues.
Decisions regarding the practice of veterinary medicine should be left to veterinarians, who have the best interests of the patient and animal owners in mind, says Eric Weigand, DVM, CVMA president. The courts decision ensures that pets in West Hollywood and throughout California will receive the best care available, as consistently regulated by California law.
The West Hollywood City Council adopted an ordinance in 2003 that banned animal declawing within the city, except when necessary for defined therapeutic purposes. In March 2005, CVMA sued the city to overturn the ordinance saying that local ordinances should not infringe on licensed professionals state-granted rights to practice within the scope of their licenses.
Posted: Dec. 1, 2005, 3p.m. PST